by VC Angell
Jim put the memory chip into the recorder. The recorder did not register it. Jim said, “I don’t understand. I’ve never seen the recorder act this way.”
“I know those little memory thingies are used for all kinds of things. Could I have the chip? I can ship it over to the BCA, and the wizards over there can tell us what on it.”
“Sure,” Jim said as he tried to get the tiny memory chip back out of the recorder. He remarked, “You have to have fingernails to get these things out.”
“It’s amazing what they’re doing these days with computers.”
“I’ve got it out finally,” Jim said and then continued, “Here, let me show you where he had hidden those chips.” Jim pulled out the drawer and showed Gladys the envelope taped on the back of it.
“How did you ever figure out that might be back there?”
“Do you know the show Spies Unlimited? I was watching it last night, and they were talking about how people hide things and said that things were often taped to the bottom of the drawer or the back of the drawer,” Jim said.
“I knew that from the training we got, but I never thought a civilian would know it. You said that there were other chips. Do you know what’s on them?” Gladys asked.
“My brother recorded interviews on them for the Journal. I could find articles in the Journal for everything on those memory chips,” Jim said. Then he added, I can let you have them if you want.”
“I trust your judgment on those.” Gladys held up the tiny memory chip Jim had given her and said, “It will be interesting to see what’s on this baby."
They chatted for a bit more, and Gladys told Jim that she had gone seen Maryann. Gladys said that it had been more of a rehash of old times than anything investigative. She thanked Jim for what he had already brought her and the new chip before leaving.
It wasn’t long after Gladys left that Will came in and asked, “I see detective Schmidt was with you when you came back in. Anything we can print?”
“I don’t think so. I think down the line, there might be something. I’m still trying to figure out why Alex was killed and who did it,” Jim said.
“Whatever it was, let’s hope it leads to finding Alex’s killer.”
* * *
Jim continued his search. The next time he saw Tinker, he asked her what she thought might be on the memory chip.
“My guess is pictures. Every digital camera uses those nowadays. The camera will usually store a few pictures. However, if you have one of those things, you can store hundreds or even thousands of pictures,” Tinker said.
Laura called to tell him that Birdie hadn’t remembered any other names. Jim called Maryanne, but she didn’t remember any other names. However, Maryanne thanked him for Gladys’ visit. She told Jim they had a great chat about old times. He even tried talking to Sally, but she got angry once more, and he learned nothing new. Jim felt helpless.
* * *
Thanksgiving was approaching. Carol asked Jim, “I’d like you to meet my folks. I was going to get them on Wednesday and bring them to my place. Would you join us for Thanksgiving?”
“Sure, I’d like to meet your folks.” Jim leaned across the table and took one of Carol’s hands, “I’ve been caught up in trying to find my brother’s killer. I should’ve asked you before, would you consider marrying me?”
Carol’s expression was first one of shock, and then she smiled and lit up, “Yes, I thought you…I was afraid you’d never ask.”
Jim got up, if and they hugged. Carol whispered, “I’m so in love with you.” The
“I’m sorry, I don’t have a ring for you yet.”
“Don’t be. I would be happy with the ring made out of a string.”
“I think I can do better than that. How about some shiny like tinfoil?”
“It also has to have a rock in it.”
“The rock is easy. The driveway is full of them.”
“Don’t be silly and kiss me,” Carol said.
Their kiss turned into kisses and grew more passionate. Carol said, “Let’s go to bed to celebrate.”
Jim teased, “Isn’t that supposed to wait until after we were married?”
“Mr. Waterman, I do believe we’ve already passed that milestone,” Carol said with a big smile.
* * *
Jim spent Thanksgiving with Carol and her parents. They were happy that Carol had finally found someone. Her father said that they had about given up on having Carol give them grandchildren. Jim could see that her father’s casual remark had a profound effect on her. Jim noted it to ask Carol about it later.
* * *
After Thanksgiving, Gladys stopped by the Journal to talk to Jim. They sat down in his office.
Gladys said, “The memory chip you gave me was full of pictures. Some of them were of people your brother mentioned on the other memory chip. We know some of them from past encounters. What I say next has to stay in the strictest of confidence.”
Jim nodded his understanding, and Gladys continued, “This is bigger than something our little Sheriff’s Department can take care of. There is a state task force made up of everything from federals down to little people like us. They were thrilled at what your brother had documented. The BCA said they were not surprised he was killed, but the way it was done makes no sense. They would just kill him.”
Chapter 14
Jim and Carol went to Bjerke’s Jewelry Store. Carol asked Jim before they went in, “How much you want to spend on me?”
“It’s not so much what I want to spend, but what pleases you,” Jim said.
Carol couldn’t resist teasing, “I think I can keep it under half a million dollars.”
“That might stretch the budget a bit,” Jim laughed.
The man who first waited on them, Jim, recognized as one of the owner's boys. He quickly turned them over to a woman saying, “She’s the expert on wedding rings and such.”
“Hi, I am Belinda. Did you want to go with a stock ring, or did you wish to make up your own from our line of mountings or juices stone first?”
Jim looked, Carol nodded. Carol said, “Let’s look at mountings first. I sort of have an idea what I’m looking for.”
Belinda produced a tray of rings without stones in them. Carol looked through them and then tried one on her finger before saying, “Do you have this in whatever you call the band underneath the mounting that is wider. My mother’s engagement ring is so worn so badly near the palm of her hand that it threatens to break at any time.”
Belinda produced another tray of rings without stones. Carol looked through them and tried another one on her finger before saying, “This is better.”
Belinda said, “I assume you want a diamond and not a colored stone?”
“Yes, I will go for a diamond,” Carol said.
Belinda disappeared and came back with diamonds, “These are the best stones for that mounting. I brought several sizes. I can temporarily set them in mounting you chose.”
Jim watched as Carol looked through the diamonds. She finally pointed at one and said, “That one looks good.”
“If you place your hand on the counter so that it steady, I can gently put the stone in the mount. You won’t be able to move. The other thing I can do is put the mounting into a holder and then placing the diamond in the setting. That would allow you to view the stone in the angle,” Belinda said.
Carol had Belinda try another diamond. It took a couple tries more before Carol found one she liked. Belinda told Carol that she could pick up the ring the next day.
* * *
After picking up the engagement ring, Jim realized how distracted he had become because of his brother’s murder. He made a note and stuck it on the monitor for his computer. He couldn’t afford to lose Carol.
* * *
“I have been thinking about Thanksgiving. My parent’s place only has one extra bedroom. Even though we are engaged, I don’t think my parents would approve of us sleeping together. How about we go over ear
ly Thanksgiving morning. It’s only about an hour and a half drive,” Carol said.
“That sounds like a good solution. Let’s hope there’s no big snowstorm, and we would have to stay,” Jim said.
“There’s nothing we can do about the weather. Did you contact Dolores Christiansen?”
“No, I got distracted by our search for an engagement ring.”
“That was quick. It only took a couple of days,” Carol held up her hand, looking at the engagement ring.
“I know. It was more important to me to put everything on the back burner and care for our relationship. I didn’t ask you sooner because all I could think of was getting the Journal back on firm financial ground. After that, it was Alex’s murder.”
“You’re forgiven. I know how important both are to you. Why don’t you call Dolores Christiansen right now?” Carol said.
Jim looked at his watch, “It is kind of late evening. Besides, her husband probably there now, if and I don’t think she’d want to answer any questions.”
“You’re probably correct. Why don’t we go to bed?”
“It’s kind of early for that, or were you thinking of something else?” Jim asked.
“Else.”
* * *
Thanksgiving Day dawned clear but cold. Carol told him a bit more about her parents as they drove. When they arrived, Jim was pleased to find an older home with a big yard. Jim commented, “It looks like you had plenty of room to play.”
“Yes, and just a block that way, there’s a park. It was a great place to be a kid,” Carol said.
Carol’s father greeted them at the door and said, “Your mother’s in the kitchen working on the meal.” They got out of their winter coats, and Carol went to see her mother while Jim and her father sat down in the living room. Her father said, “Please call me Bill.”
“Okay, Bill. This is a nice house.” Jim said.
“It was just two years old when we bought it. The couple we bought it from was moving because the husband had taken another job somewhere out west.”
“I have an older home just outside of Alma. It was built in the 1950s. It came some acres of land. I haven’t done anything with the land. I’m too busy since I got back here.”
“Our daughter has been telling us that your brother was killed.”
“According to the autopsy report and the sheriff, he was murdered. So far, they haven’t been able to find who it was,” Jim said.
“That’s what Carol told us. I understand you own the paper there in Alma?”
“Yes, and I’m sure you know it’s not a good time for anything in print. The Internet and smartphones are making it a tough market for any newspaper. I think I’ve been able to assure the long-term viability of the Journal since I got back.”
Before Bill could reply, Carol came back with her mother. She was not the older overweight woman that most older women were in northern Minnesota. Neither was she skinny. Carol said, “I’d like you to meet my mother.”
Jim stood up and offered to shake her hand, but her mother said, “Since you’re practically part of the family now, how about a hug?” Jim was surprised by the warmth of her hug.
Carol’s mother said, “Why don’t you call me Sam. That’s short for Samantha. We need to bring the turkey from the kitchen to the dining room, and we will be ready to eat.”
The Thanksgiving meal was a feast. There was the turkey with dressing, a green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Jim enjoyed the meal and the warmth of the people. He even learned a few things about Carol from her childhood, things to tease her about. The day was coming fast to an end as they do in northern Minnesota in the winter. It was going to be dark before Carol and Jim got back to his place.
* * *
Dolores Christiansen was next on Jim’s list of things to do. He was able to make contact with her by phone. She told him that she’d rather come to see him at the Journal than meet any other way.
It was just the next day when Helen came in with an older woman.
Helen said, “This is Dolores Christiansen.” She turned and left without saying another word closing the door behind her.
Jim said, “Why don’t you sit down? Would you like some coffee?”
Dolores sat down and, trying to smile, said, “I’m fine. I don’t need any coffee.”
“How did you meet my brother, Alex?”
“We went all the way through school together. I was a year behind him. We even dated a couple of times in high school.” Dolores smiled at the memories.
“I would’ve never thought that. As you can tell, there were 23 years of difference between Alex and myself.”
“I remember him telling me that you are on crime beat reporter.”
“That had that beat several years ago. I’ve been in Europe working as a foreign correspondent for the last few years,” Jim said.
Dolores thought for a moment and then said, “I guess it was that long ago. When you get my age, time seems to just fly by.”
“The reason I want to talk to you was that I understand from several people was my brother was frightened by something.”
“I don’t remember him saying anything like that. Would you like to know how we met again?”
“Sure, but I didn’t want to intrude on your privacy.”
“I had seen him around, and we would say hello to each other, but one June day, we met by accident at the Country Kettle. Somehow, we ended up at Alex’s lake cabin. I hadn’t felt anything like that in years. Before I know it, we…” Carl paused and said, “I guess you understand what I mean.”
“Yes, I do. Thank you for telling me, but I was looking for more recent things in hopes of finding out why someone would want to kill Alex,” Jim said.
“I ended it because it wasn’t fair to my husband. I have thought many times about it. I think the first time was just the passion of the moment. Alex treated me so well I couldn’t stop at first.”
“From what I understand, Alex was not pleased by his marriage anymore. His wife told me why. I guess that’s why he turned to you,” Jim said.
“It wasn’t just me. After I ended it, I saw Alex with Jesse Halverson. I even got a chance to ask him about it, and he told me they were having an affair.”
“His wife seemed to know what he was doing. I don’t think she approved of it, but she understood why he would seek the company of other women.”
“Alex told me that she didn’t want to be intimate with because of the problems she had.” Dolores seemed lost in thoughts for a moment and then said, “I’m sorry I did it, but Alex brought me back to what it is like to be a teenager again. I treasure those times, but I don’t think I can help you anymore.”
“You’ve helped me because I had heard the name Jesse, but I didn’t have a last name. I can hunt her up and talk to her,” Jim said.
“Jesse is a divorcee. She works at the bank as a teller. She goes to my church, the First Lutheran, here in town.” Carol paused a moment, then said, “I think she’s listed in our church address book. We don’t print it anymore. It’s online. Is your computer connected to the Internet?” Carol said, pointing at his computer.
When Jim said, “Yes, but not to our internal network,” Carol talked him through signing into the church’s website and then their address book. Jim cut and pasted Jesse’s information into his address book. He thanked Dolores, and she left.
* * *
The rhythm of running a rural newspaper kept Jim from going to see Jesse at the bank. He wrote down her telephone number before leaving the paper, planning to call her that evening. Once Jim was outside on his way home, he discovered they had snow flurries. They were big fluffy flakes and blowing around. The road traffic stirred up a little bit of snow, so it was not a problem.
After supper, Jim called Jesse.
“I thought you would be calling me after I read that Alex’s death was a murder,” Jesse said.
“If you don’t mind, I have some questions I’d like t
o ask you,” Jim said.
“I don’t want to do it on the phone. I’d rather do it face-to-face. Is that okay?” Jesse asked.
“That sounds good to me. When would you like to get together?”
“I’m free tonight,” Jesse said.”
“Where would you like to meet?”
“Could I come to see you?”
Jim explained where he lived.
Jesse asked, “That’s right by Little Wolf Lake, isn’t it?”
“That’s just a little way from my place.”
“I have got the number of your place. It will be easy to find.”
“I remember the days when you just get an address like rural route 1. Now everybody’s got an address as if you live in town.”
Jesse said, “It seems ridiculous to me when you’re out driving on a backroad, and you see a sign saying that it is 117 Street Northwest, and all that’s around are a bunch of trees.” “Not a house in sight,” Dolores added.
Jim chuckled, “I agree. Should I put the coffee pot on?”
“Sure thing, I’m just running around in a robe, so it’ll take me a few minutes to get dressed. Wait about ten before you put it on,” Jesse said.
Jim waited for about 10 minutes and put the coffee on, and sat back down. A little later, he heard a car drive up and went to the door to greet Jesse. He helped her off with her winter coat and took her into the living room. “Let me grab the coffee pot had we could sit down and chat. I have some store-bought cookies if you’re interested,” Jim said.
“No, thanks. Supper wasn’t that long ago,” Jesse said.
Jim retrieve the coffee pot from the kitchen and poured them both a cup. He sat down and got a good look at Jesse. She seemed quite a bit younger than Dolores. Much closer to his age than his brothers. Jim asked, “Why did you want to meet in person?”
Jesse didn’t hesitate, “Your brother was such a great guy and a good looker. I wanted to know if you were too. He was married, and I understand you aren’t.”
“I’m not married, but I just got engaged,” Jim said.
Jesse shook her head, “Damn, I seem always to be a day late and a dollar short. There goes that fantasy.”